In yesterday’s blog entry, I talked about being too old to dream. Well, guess what…we are never too old.
During my travels, I met Paula Kay “P.K.” Beville, Ph.D., and her team from Second Wind Dreams. Second Wind Dreams is a non-profit organization that grants dreams to people in nursing homes. The dreams are vast and varied — from finding long lost friends, to swimming with the dolphins, to a trip to a favorite restaurant or something as mundane as reading glasses. P.K. and her team use a simple set of questions to uncover people’s hidden dreams:
- What do you wish you would have done?
- If you could, what would you still like to do?
- If you could have one thing, what would that be?
- What are you known for being good at?
- Who would you like to see again?
- What dreams do you feel you have had to leave behind?
- What do you want to do before you die?
- What is something you would like to do or have that you don’t think will ever happen?
By asking these questions, and with the input of the nursing home staff, Second Wind Dreams has helped people find what is most important to them. Over the years P.K. has discovered that dreams for the elderly are vast and varied, but mainly fall into five categories:
- Relationship Based Dreams: These dreams reunite people with friends and family members that they may not have seen in many years. One resident had not seen his brother in over 40 years! Seeing him again was the most important dream to this individual. Approximately 12% of the dreams are this kind.
- Life Long Dreams: For some, learning to play the piano, swimming with the dolphins, or going to Graceland are powerful dreams. These are dreams people have had their entire life and never had a chance to fulfill. Approximately 6% of dreams fall into this category.
- Dreams to Relive Past Experiences: Some people like to relive the past, such as a simple trip to a favorite restaurant. Or paint supplies so that they can go back to creating paintings. These are 14% of the dreams.
- Dreams for Fun: An unbelievable 46% of the dreams fulfilled are just for fun. Residents want to go to the Price Is Right, ride a go-cart and ride all the roller coasters at an amusement park. As P.K. once told me, “This blows the preconceived notion that people give up as they age.”
- Need Based Dreams: Imagine needing something as simple as a cup holder for your wheelchair or a dress so that you can attend church again and no matter what you do you will never be able to get it. This is a humbling 22% of the dreams.
You are never too old (too young, too poor, or too busy) to dream. It is just a matter of doing it…now. Too often we make sacrifices in the hope that things will be better some day. But no one looks back on their life and thinks, “Gee, I wished I spent more time at the office.” Use P.K.’s questions and inspiration to help you discover your dreams. And if you are so inspired by the stories on her website, be sure to make a donation. I am.